Adnan Akmal was declared the best wicketkeeper in the domestic T20. PHOTO: FARAS GHANI

Pakistan on Tuesday included uncapped wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal and Muhammad Hafeez in their squad for the two Test matches against South Africa starting later this week.

Pakistan were forced to make the changes after Zulqarnain Haider fled the team hotel in Dubai on Monday and flew to London after reportedly receiving death threats from an unknown person.

“Adnan has been included in the Test squad as replacement for Haider and we have asked Hafeez to stay for the Tests after leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was not given clearance by the cricket board,” team manager Intikhab Alam told AFP.

The first of two Tests starts in Dubai from Friday. The second Test will be played in Abu Dhabi from November 20.

Haider, earlier named in the Test squad, left for London without giving any information to the team management and told a local TV channel on Tuesday that he was retiring from international cricket.

Adnan, 25, is the elder brother of Umar Akmal and younger brother to Kamran, who was not selected for the tour after undergoing an appendicitis operation.

Pakistan also suffered a set-back when paceman Sohail Tanveer, named in the squad last month, failed to prove his fitness and was excluded from the Tests.

Facebook Conversations

Reader Comments (24)

How can they select him ahead of Sarfaraz Ahmed?? that is ridiculous. There is definitely something going on in the PCB. The Akmal brothers have way too much influence on Pakistani cricket. No matter what K.Akmal does he is always back in the team. Even when we needed to replace zulqarnain why did asad shafiq not keep? when he has done it in the past Recommend

Is it not possible that the Akmal brothers came up with the whole “Haider running from Dubai” fiasco so that their younger brother would be able to be a part of the team? You never know how many contacts these people have. On a much lighter note, I’ve heard Adnan plays twice as good as Umar and Kamran together. So this actually might be good for Pak cricket. Haider wasn’t that great anywayRecommend

akmal brothers definitely have some fishy backing. considering they get off with evrything. zulkarnain was sent back home aftr that test performance in summers as well cause he hurt his THuMB!!! so somebody is def out their not to let him settle in the position of a wicket keeper. Recommend

It is a pity about Zulqarnain but I understand his fear. But what is more seriously needed in cricket is better refering in bad umpiring decisions, like when Nadeem (deliberately?) refused to give Afridi out, despite the fact that Afriidi inside-edged the ball and he himself knew he was out. The same bad umpiring happened the same day in the Test between India and New Zealand where two Indian players were given LBW in two consecutive balls although it was very clear in both cases the ball touched the bat before the pads.

Much depends on umpire decisions, and with technology already being used for some decisions, I suggest it be used in ALL decisions.Recommend

It is a pity about Zulqarnain but I understand his fear. But what is more seriously needed in cricket is better refering in bad umpiring decisions, like when Nadeem (deliberately?) refused to give Afridi out, despite the fact that Afriidi inside-edged the ball and he himself knew he was out. The same bad umpiring happened the same day in the Test between India and New Zealand where two Indian players were given LBW in two consecutive balls although it was very clear in both cases the ball touched the bat before the pads.
akmal brothers definitely have some fishy backing. considering they get off with evrything. zulkarnain was sent back home aftr that test performance in summers as well cause he hurt his THuMB!!! so somebody is def out their not to let him settle in the position of a wicket keeper.Recommend

This is getting sickening now. Cant we have anyone not from this god damn Akmal’s household ?? I guess Forbes forgot Mr Akmal as one of the most powerful men. I mean three brothers in a national side & they always get carried away with everything.Recommend

Akmals got talent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kamran is dropping catches for last fives years now and Umar is not scoring runs for last 1 year now. Perhaps they have got talent to remain in team without doing anything.Recommend

How good is misbah and how good is malik not better than the akmal brothers and adnan akmal is the best wicket keeper in the country. Amir, Butt, Asif must have got death threats that why they must have did match fixing.Recommend

1.The Zulqarnain fiasco is created by Akmal brothers to get Adnan Akmal on the team.
2. Zulqarnain self created this drama (looking at his fishy past) just to move to UK, file asylum, gets citizenship and have a peaceful life with his family.
3. Someone in the PCB management is involved in this including Zulqarnain.
4. Haider did take the kickbacks but failed to deliver.

So far these are the rumors (that I know). Whatever the case be, i pray that truth surface so the whole nation knows who is disgracing the nation.

Also,

Why no one noticing the debacle of Hong Kong Sixes where Pak team lost a winning match with very doubtful decisions of Shoaib Malik? This match smelled very fishy! A private channel did discussed that fishy act of Malik.Recommend

There is no doubt that Shaoaib Malik and Imran Nazir deliberately lost Hongkong Sixes Final. Shoaib’s silly response or lack of it at the post match interview amply shows this. When Aus needed 4 with one ball left, Imran Nazir made it sure by bowling so wide that wicket keeper should not be able to stop.This is all available on TV. This despicable pair has the history that confirms that they did it again.Why they did it? That needs some answers.It is indeed surprising that media, print and other decided to ignore this balatant thuggery in broad day light and watched by millions. Recommend